World
Worsening El Nino threatens Asia with drought, potentially raising food prices globally
BANTEN, Indonesia | All signs are pointing toward a record-breaking El Nino this year, which experts say may cause severe drought in Asia and other extreme weather across the world, threatening food security for millions of people. El Nino is part of a natural climate cycle of warming ocean temperatures, but this year’s is expected […]
China’s Alibaba unveils new powerful chip and ambitious AI model plans
HONG KONG | China’s Alibaba unveiled new artificial intelligence chip technologies and plans for more powerful models on Tuesday, including what it said was China’s most powerful AI chip, days ahead of a meeting between Chinese and U.S. leaders at which competition to lead on AI technology is expected to be a major theme. Alibaba’s […]
Russia and Ukraine trade deadly strikes as Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump
KYIV, Ukraine | Russia bombarded at least four Ukrainian regions overnight with missiles and drones, killing five people, officials said Tuesday, and Ukraine’s forces damaged another Russian oil refinery in their latest long-range strike. The ongoing exchange of daily aerial attacks, while positions on the battlefield’s front line barely change, provided a backdrop to the […]
Trump returns to UN at a moment of anxiety about Iran, AI and the future of the world body itself
UNITED NATIONS | President Donald Trump is set to address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday at a tumultuous moment for the world — and for his presidency. The global economy has been shaken by his decision to launch a war against Iran. Anxiety about the social impact being wrought by artificial intelligence is surging. […]
UN leaders’ meeting convenes with secretary-general calling for ‘world built on interdependence’
UNITED NATIONS | U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pleaded for “a world built on interdependence” as he made his final address Tuesday to a yearly gathering of world leaders convening to face a formidable menu of challenges — from climate change and war to inequality and artificial intelligence. The U.N. leader has long implored leaders not […]
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warns US over escalation, and other Mideast developments
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned Monday that it would “change the geography of the war” if the United States escalates the conflict. Meanwhile, the British military said an “unknown projectile” struck a tanker as it entered the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, injuring two crew members. The Israeli military remains on alert as much of the […]
A closer look at Yom Kippur, the holiest day of Jewish calendar
Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. is widely considered the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar. It is being observed this year from around sunset on Sunday until after nightfall Monday night. It is typically spent in prayer and repentance. It marks the conclusion of the Jewish High Holy days, which began […]
Preparing to leave office, with world beset by problems, UN chief talks of a way forward
UNITED NATIONS | The world is deeply divided and the U.N.’s most powerful body is paralyzed when it comes to ending conflicts. But there’s a way forward. So says the United Nations’ top official. On his way out of office at year’s end after nearly a decade, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres — known for doom-and-gloom […]
Trump decries Democrats as ‘communists,’ even as he looks to impress China’s communist leader
WASHINGTON | Communism, President Donald Trump says, is the greatest threat the U.S. has ever faced. This summer, citing similarly grave concerns, he took the rare step of delivering a primetime address to the nation, accusing China of “sinister election meddling” in 2020 and reviving his yearslong push to dispute his loss in that year’s […]
Trump’s ‘grand conspiracy’ probe presses on with subpoenas after the lead prosecutor’s exit
WASHINGTON | Before taking over the sprawling Justice Department investigation into foes of President Donald Trump, Joe diGenova decried the lack of progress in bringing indictments. Five months later, diGenova has left his position without charging a single case, clouding the future of an investigation that has animated right-wing commentators eager to prove an ill-defined […]